Closeout plays possum

Breaking slowly and growing rank behind horses in the $50,000 Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park, Closeout appeared an unlikely winner in the early stages of the race. But once the field exited the final turn and entered the stretch, there was little doubt of her superiority.

Angled to the outside by John McKee for running room, she easily blew past longshot front-runner Magical Tune and pulled clear to 3 1/4-length victory. She raced 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course in 1:42.09, paying $5.20 as the favorite in the field of 10 3-year-old fillies.

Magic Tune, who set modest fractions of at 24.22 seconds, 48.99, and 1:13.02, held on to be second at odds of 53-1, and Magical Theater, the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, rallied belatedly to be third, a length behind Magic Tune.

The Audubon Oaks marked the first stakes victory of Closeout's five-race career. Earlier this year, she won a maiden race at first asking at Fair Grounds March 21 and took an allowance race at Churchill Downs June 7, with a sixth-place finish at Keeneland and runner-up finish at Churchill sandwiched in between.

Tom Proctor trained the winner, a daughter of Repriced out of the mare Deep Discount, for owner/breeder Glen Hill Farm.